MANAGEMENT OF PIGEONS 



259 



the domestic pigeon is a shelf builder. So in arranging for nests 

 the pigeon keeper builds shelves 10 or 12 inches apart, and 

 divides these into compartments about 12 inches wide, thus 

 forming pigeonholes. Because a hen pigeon often lays again 

 and begins to incubate before a pair of young are ready to leave 

 the nest, it is usual to arrange the pigeonholes in pairs. This 

 is sometimes done by omitting alternate dividing boards, mak- 

 ing each pigeonhole twice the size required, so that a nest can 



FIG. 210. City back-yard squab plant 



be made in each corner. Some people prefer to have single 

 pigeonholes and to arrange them in double sections by making 

 each alternate perpendicular board project several inches beyond 

 the front edge of the horizontal shelf. When this is done, a 

 pair of pigeons in possession of one side of a double section 

 will usually claim the entire section and prevent others from 

 entering it even when they are themselves using only one side. 

 For indoor perches for pigeons individual perches shaped 

 like an inverted V are most used. These are attached to the 



